The Gaming Month Ahead – October 2015

It’s almost Christmas! And by almost, I clearly mean there’s still 87 days left. As winter fast approaches, so too does the vast slew of games that always tumble in towards the end of the year. Let’s start with this months remaster/remake/port/HD!!! games. Not too many, there’s been a slow down in recent months of these, quite possible because they’re running out or more likely because they mostly come out in the summer when publishers are unwilling to put out their best. We get both ends of the remaster spectrum here. First we get the game that nobody asked for – Darksiders 2 is out on PS4 and Xbone, looking pretty much just like the PC version and carrying the stupid subtitle of Deathinitive edition. On the other end, the Uncharted Trilogy releases on PS4 with sterling work done by BluePoint as usual. This is no simple HD upres. Textures have been reworked, 3d modelling has been enhanced, lighting upgraded and everything runs at a smooht 60fps. It’s a stunning bit of work that should be great for people who jumped from X360 to PS4 without having played them. Also – it’s got a fantastic set of trailers.

The month’s big title (for those with Xbone’s at least) is Halo 5: Guardians. It looks suitably like you would expect a flagship title to look and seems to have a all the bells and whistles you would expect. Though, having recently played a bit of Halo: CE on the original Xbox, I can’t help but feel that having to have all the the things that every other FPS has, does take away from Halo’s inherent charm. Aim down sights and sprint were never needed in Halo 1. Master Chief was good enough that holding his gun slightly differently didn’t suddenly ramp up his accuracy. Multiplayer seems to be as big and extensive as ever. Microsoft and 343 are probably hoping it lasts longer than Halo4’s did – a lot players jumped ship very quickly from that title, despite there being lots to unlock and and generous additions and free content.

Two great PC titles are releasing on console this month. Wasteland 2 and Divinity Original Sin are out on PS4 and Xbone with enhancements and significant changes to both. Original Sin goes so far as to add split-screen mode. There’s good news for original owners of both games as well, as the PC versions are getting these upgrades for free. Original Sin will have full controller support and the split screen mode intact.

Platinum’s Transformers Devastation comes out early in the month. Everyone’s hoping it’s more like the studio’s bigger budget titles and not like the unfortunate Legend of Korra game (which had good gameplay, but really lacked a soul). I’m still skeptical how any Transformers game can beat the 2004 PS2 title which totally nailed transformations.

Other games to keep an eye on this month include Omega Force’s take on the Dragon Quest franchise, though it comes with one of the longest, silliest names in recent memory: Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below. They bring the Dynasty Warriors musou gameplay and change it into more of an ARPG flavour with super bright graphics. There’s more musou combat earlier in the month with Samurai Warriors 4-II out on PlayStation consoles and PC. Samurai Warriors 4-II is more like an expansion than a full release, with lots of alternative scenarios and game modes, but promises as much content as the original release.

Witcher 3 gets its first expansion DLC with the Hearts of Stone story. The story revolves around an immortal bandit that Geralt has been hired to overcome. Screenshots seem to hint at a return for Shani, one of Geralt’s companions from Witcher 1. The story is touted to be as deep and nuanced as the rest of the Witcer’s enthralling narrative and will include more monster hunts, side missions and Gwent Cards to boot.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is released on console (PC versions release next month – consdiering Unity, that’s probably a good idea). Towards the end of the month PokemonSapphire and Omega Ruby come to 3DS and the Warhammer, first person, melee focused co-op Vermintide comes out on PC. The delayed Sword Coast Legends is also out this month. The latest D&D game set in the forgotten realms is aiming to replace the old Neverwinter Nights multiplayer and user content – allowing players to play as dungeon masters and band with friends online to tackle user generated and official campaigns. The current Rage of Demons campaign setting that is coming to pen and paper, Neverwinter and Dungeons and Dragons Online, will also be released for Sword Coast Legends.

Whatever you decide to get – remember, Fallout 4 is out early the following month.